I pulled the little map out of my dress pocket. Nothing better than a dress with pockets and a map to show me the way. The map in the party favors London had given her bridal party was a brilliant touch because it was the only way I’d be able to find my way back to my room. The palace was massive. Even after being there for three days, I was still unable to find the correct hallway toward my quarters, and I was trained for shit like that. I kept worrying that eventually I’d stumble down to the dungeons and no one would ever find me again.
Although London kept trying to tell me dungeons didn’t exist in the palace, I wasn’t sure if I should believe her or not. I mumbled to myself as I turned left down the hall and then took a right past the gardens.
One more right turn, and I was in my hallway. I recognized the painting right across from my room which I’d drawn as the X that marked the spot on my map.
London’s family had graduated to the tech of the new century, and so had their digs. As I approached my door, my phone told the door who I was, and the lock disengaged.
Turning the handle, I pushed on the heavy wood but paused when I heard moaning.
What the hell? I pushed the door farther, letting in more light, and the moaning increased. Then somebody called out, “Love, whether you’re joining us or not, letting in the light is kind of rude.”
“What the fuck?”
I hit the lights, only to find a man in my damn bed. A man with the nicest ass I’d ever seen. In my bed. With a blonde and a redhead.
“Are you fucking kidding me? This is where I’m sleeping tonight.”
His grin was rakish. “Go ahead, strip down. Join us.”
Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot. “Oh my God. You’re a pig.” I briskly turned, struggling with the heavy door, which gave him time to catch me. He had the sheet held at his waist as the women in bed grumbled.
“Wait.” The heat from his body was hot enough to scald. And his voice, low and slightly slurring, sent a shiver down my entire body.
His hand grabbed my forearm, and I shook him off as I managed to get the door open. “No, thank you. Don’t touch me. I can see where your hands have been.” He was lucky I wasn’t in the mood to hurt my side or cause a scene, or I’d have thrown him over my shoulder and taught him what happened when someone touched me without permission.
He glanced back at the bed and laughed. “You’re the one who tried to join our private celebration.”
I could smell the alcohol on his breath. And from the dim light in the foyer, I could see that his pupils were dilated. Jesus Christ, how trashed was he?
And I knew exactly who this was. Hard to miss it when he looked so much like his fucking brothers.
Breck Waterford. The partier of the family without a care in the world.
Wilder was the one with the connections and the focus.
Roman was the one with steel and responsibility.
Breck? He looked to be just like his cousin Barkley. Useless.
“No, you idiot. This is my room. You don’t even recognize me, do you?”
He leaned closer. “Oh, I recognize you all right. You’re my sister’s uptight little friend. The stiff one who’s always a little too watchful, who sees too much.”
“Well, I’ve certainly seen enough tonight. Let go of my arm, or I will put you down.”
He leered down at me. “Now that, I would like to see.”
With a well-practiced judo move, I placed a hand over the one still holding me, swung the arm he was holding around, and then pressed down on his wrist. He winced and immediately released me. “Jesus, fuck.”
“I told you not to touch me.”
He held up his hands. “Fine. All you had to do was ask.”
“You’re a dick.”
He grinned. “Oh, you haven’t even seen the worst of it.”
“Touch me again, and you’ll be missing your appendage.”
“I promise, I’m not going to touch you again until you ask me.”
I leaned forward so he could hear me as I ground out each word. “I will never ask you to touch me.”
“Never say never, love.”
****
Next Up in the Tattered Royals series?
ENEMY HEIR
For more information please go to Carrie Ann Ryan and Nana Malone’s websites.
Want to read a special BONUS EPILOGUE featuring Kannon & London? CLICK HERE!
A Note from Carrie Ann & Nana
Thank you so much for reading ROYAL LINE!!
Next up from in the Tattered Royals series is ENEMY HEIR! Sparrow and Beck might not be ready for each other, but we’re ready for them!
The Tattered Royals Series:
Book 1: Royal Line
Book 2: Enemy Heir
More to come!
Want to read a special BONUS EPILOGUE featuring Kannon & London? CLICK HERE!
Acknowledgments
Writing a book is never easy. Writing a book with your friend is honestly a lot more fun! At least that’s what I’m telling myself. Please, Nana, don’t disabuse me of this notion!
Nana and I would love to thank so many people for helping us get Royal Line completed!
Thank you to our editors, Angie and Chelle, for somehow making Royal Line into a full book and not just fun times with Kannon and London where they fight and have steamy interludes.
Thank you to our amazing cover artist, Jaycee for not only hitting this cover out of the park, but for doing it on the first try. Thank you to Wander and Kaz for this fantastic image!
Thank you to our friends who are numerous in name and even more so in
